New GCC and biting

Hello all! My bf and I just got a pineapple GCC on Saturday (4 days). His name is Banjo and for the last 3 days we have raved about hoe SWEET he has been. He cuddles under my chin, he scoots in as close as he can to my bf's neck, he looooves head rubs and has been doing great with training (step up, off and kiss). Then today all of a sudden he BITES, and hard. He even grabbed my finger and shook it. I dropped my hand and said NO sternly (I did not pull away) and he put his head down to be pet and he was sweet again, then suddenly he bit me again. What's the deal?

I'm a first time conure owner and need help. Since he's only been with us 4 days I don't want him to start thinking that biting is ok.

Also, he keeps trying to climb my head and go into my parakeets cage. He gets mad if we don't let him climb their cage and if we try to get him off (by saying step up, no physical pulling) he bites then too. All these bad behaviors are NEW as of today.

Info: he will be 1 yr old in May. We think he's a male. He IS molting and has a lot of pin feathers.

Molting birds can be a bit temperamental and nippy. The more pin feathers they have the more they act like Mr. Cranky Pants. Keep up enforcing the boundaries and limits if good behavior. He might have been allowed to do whatever he wanted in his last home so I could take a bit. With patience and consistency he will learn.

Hi Andielane87,

We're nearing the end of year one with our gcc Jellybean, and I can definitely sympathize! We've found that dealing with her is like dealing with a stubborn toddler... the more we say no to something, the more determined she becomes it's a wonderful idea (perching on our heads, climbing the curtains, chewing on the toothbrushes, biting our toes, etc., etc.)! Just take a deep breath, remain calm, and keep telling yourself "I'm the adult, I'm the adult, I'm the adult...!"

Good luck! Jenny

JennyB said:

Hi Andielane87,

We're nearing the end of year one with our gcc Jellybean, and I can definitely sympathize! We've found that dealing with her is like dealing with a stubborn toddler... the more we say no to something, the more determined she becomes it's a wonderful idea (perching on our heads, climbing the curtains, chewing on the toothbrushes, biting our toes, etc., etc.)! Just take a deep breath, remain calm, and keep telling yourself "I'm the adult, I'm the adult, I'm the adult...!"

Good luck! Jenny

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I know what you mean !! I have one also [and hes young] . His nip hurts the worst of my birds [and you see all my birds] .I think its the shape of their beak. I was told once they did that cause they were to excited to see you [I have no idea what to do though]

JennyB said:

Hi Andielane87,
... We've found that dealing with her is like dealing with a stubborn toddler... the more we say no to something, the more determined she becomes it's a wonderful idea (perching on our heads, climbing the curtains, chewing on the toothbrushes, biting our toes, etc., etc.)!

Click to expand...

That's exactly what he is like! A toddler throwing a tantrum... "I know you told me NOT to go in the parakeets' cage but I want to do it anyway." lol